Portable telephone

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a portable telephone comprising an openable/closable casing having a display  13   a , a magnetic sensor  18   b  for detecting whether the casing is opened or closed, and a control circuit  10 . When a message is received with the casing closed, the control circuit  10  displays the contents of the received message on the display  13   a . When the casing in an opening state is thereafter detected, the control circuit  10  displays on the display  13   a  a reply-message-preparation screen for preparing a reply message to be sent to a sender of the received message.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to portable telephones capable of sendingand receiving a message containing electronic information, and moreparticularly to portable telephones which simplifies a series ofmanipulations of sending a reply message to a sender of a message whenthe message is received, or of transferring the received message to theother party than the sender.

BACKGROUND ART

A foldable portable telephone comprises an openable/closable casing.Arranged on an inner surface of the casing are a speech transmissionportion and a speech reception portion, as well as a manipulationsurface of a key input device and a screen of a display. When to becarried, the telephone is made compact by closing the casing. When thetelephone is to send or receive signals, the manipulation surface of thekey input device, the screen of the display, and the speech transmissionportion and speech reception portion are exposed by opening the casingto thereby allow the user to make a call.

The portable telephones which have been in wide use in recent years havea function of sending and receiving a message. In receiving a message,the user of the foldable portable telephone having such a function opensthe casing to thereby expose the manipulation surface of the key inputdevice and the screen of the display, and thereafter manipulates amessage-display key to thereby present the contents of the receivedmessage on the display. In this manner the user can read the receivedmessage.

In sending a reply message to the sender of the received message, as afirst step the user manipulates a reply-message-preparation key with thecontents of the received message displayed on the display as describedabove to present a reply-message-preparation screen on the display tothereby prepare a message to be sent by entering characters. As a laststep the user manipulates a message-sending key to thereby send theprepared message to a communications equipment of the sender of thereceived message. In this way the user can send a reply message to thesender of the received message.

However, when the user of the conventional portable telephone sends areply message to the sender of the received message, the user needs toperform a series of manipulations such as opening the casing,manipulating the message-display key, manipulating thereply-message-preparation key, entering characters, and manipulating themessage-sending key as described above, entailing the problem ofcumbersomeness of the series of manipulations.

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable telephonewhich more simplifies a series of manipulations of sending a message tothe sender of a message when the message is received or to the otherparty than the sender of the received message than conventionally.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a first portable telephone including anopenable/closable casing, a display having a screen which is exposed tothe outside regardless of whether the casing is opened or closed, and akey input device having a plurality of manipulation keys for enteringcharacters and a manipulation surface which is to be exposed to theoutside by opening the casing. The portable telephone is capable ofsending and receiving messages containing electronic information. Theportable telephone is characterized in that the portable telephonecomprises:

-   -   opening-closing detection means for detecting whether the casing        is opened or closed,    -   means for receiving the message,    -   display control means for displaying the contents of the        received message on the display when the message is received        with the casing closed, and displaying on the display a        message-preparation screen for preparing a message to be sent to        a sender of the received message or to the other party than the        sender when the casing in an opening state is thereafter        detected.

With the first portable telephone of the present invention, when themessage is received with the casing closed, the contents of the receivedmessage are displayed on the display. In this case the screen of thedisplay is exposed to the outside with the casing closed, so that theuser can read the received message.

The key input device of the portable telephone can be manipulated byopening the casing to expose the manipulation surface of the device. Theuser therefore opens the casing for entering characters when sending thereply message to the sender of the received message, or whentransferring the message to the other party than the sender. When thecontents of the received message are displayed on the display and thecasing of the portable telephone is thereafter opened, themessage-preparation screen will be displayed on the display. In thiscase the screen of the display is exposed to the outside even when thecasing is opened, so that the user can view the message-preparationscreen displayed on the display. Then the message is prepared inresponse to the user's entering characters, to send the prepared messageto the sender of the received message or to the other party than thesender.

With the first portable telephone of the present invention, themessage-preparation screen is displayed on the display by opening thecasing as stated above, so that a series of manipulations of sending thereply message or transferring the message is made easier than that withthe conventional portable telephone which requires the user tomanipulate the reply-message-preparation key after opening the casing.

Stated specifically the portable telephone comprises a message-displaykey which is positioned so as to be manipulated with the casing closed.The display control means executes a display operation for displayingthe contents of the received message when the message-display key ismanipulated after the message is received.

According to the specific construction, the casing has a message-displaykey positioned so as to be manipulated with the casing closed. When amessage is received with the casing closed, the contents of the receivedmessage can be displayed by manipulating the message-display key.

Stated further specifically, when the message-display key is manipulatedafter the message is received with the casing opened, the displaycontrol means displays the contents of the received message on thedisplay and then displays the message-preparation screen on the displaywhen the message-display key is further manipulated.

According to the above specific construction, when the message isreceived with the casing opened, manipulating the message-display keypresents the contents of the received message on the display, andthereafter manipulating further the message-display key presents themessage-preparation screen on the display.

The present invention provides a second portable telephone including anopenable/closable casing, a main display having a screen which is to beexposed to the outside by opening the casing, an auxiliary displayhaving a screen which is to be exposed to the outside with the casingclosed, and a key input device having a manipulation surface which is tobe exposed to the outside by opening the casing, the portable telephonebeing capable of sending and receiving messages containing electronicinformation. The portable telephone is characterized in that theportable telephone comprises:

-   -   opening-closing detection means for detecting whether the casing        is opened or closed,    -   means for receiving the message,    -   display control means for displaying the contents of the        received message on the auxiliary display when the message is        received with the casing closed, and displaying on the main        display a message-preparation screen for preparing a message to        be sent to a sender of the received message or to the other        party than the sender when the casing in an opening state is        thereafter detected.

With the second portable telephone of the present invention, when themessage is received with the casing closed, the contents of the receivedmessage are displayed on the auxiliary display. In this case the screenof the auxiliary display is exposed to the outside even when the casingis closed, so that the user can read the received message.

The key input device of the portable telephone can be manipulated byopening the casing to expose the manipulation surface of the device. Theuser therefore opens the casing for entering characters when sending thereply message to the sender of the received message, or whentransferring the message to the other party than the sender. When thecontents of the received message are displayed on the auxiliary displayand the casing is thereafter opened, the message-preparation screen isdisplayed on the main display for preparing a message to be sent to thesender of the received message or to the other party than the sender. Inthis case the screen of the main display is exposed to the outside byopening the casing, so that the user can view the message-preparationscreen displayed on the main display. Then the message is prepared inresponse to the user's entering characters, to send the prepared messageto the sender of the received message or to the other party than thesender.

With the second portable telephone of the present invention, themessage-preparation screen is displayed on the main display by openingthe casing as stated above, so that a series of manipulations forsending the reply message or transferring the message is made easierthan that with the conventional portable telephone which requires theuser to manipulate the reply-message-preparation key after opening thecasing.

Stated specifically the portable telephone comprises a message-displaykey which is positioned so as to be manipulated with the casing closed.The display control means executes a display operation for displayingthe contents of the received message when the message-display key ismanipulated after the message is received.

According to the specific construction, the casing has a message-displaykey positioned so as to be manipulated with the casing closed. When amessage is received with the casing closed, the contents of the receivedmessage can be displayed by manipulating the message-display key.

Stated further specifically, when the message-display key is manipulatedafter the message is received with the casing opened, the displaycontrol means displays the contents of the received message on the maindisplay and then displays the message-preparation screen on the maindisplay when the message-display key is further manipulated.

According to the specific construction, when the message is receivedwith the casing opened, manipulating the message-display key presentsthe contents of the received message on the main display, and thereaftermanipulating further the message-display key presents themessage-preparation screen on the main display.

As described above, with the portable telephone of the presentinvention, a series of manipulations of sending the message to thesender of the received message or to the other party than the sender ismade easier than conventionally.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1( a) is a front view of a portable telephone in its opened state,of the first embodiment;

FIG. 1( b) is a rear view of the described portable telephone in itsopened sate;

FIG. 1( c) is a side elevation of the portable telephone in its openedstate;

FIG. 2( a) is a front view of the portable telephone in its closedstate;

FIG. 2( b) is a rear view of the portable telephone in its closed state;

FIG. 2( c) is a side elevation of the portable telephone in its closedstate;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of theportable telephone;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of sending a reply-message tobe performed by the portable telephone;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a portable telephone in its opened state, ofthe second embodiment;

FIG. 6( a) is a front view of the described portable telephone in itsclosed state;

FIG. 6( b) is a side elevation of the portable telephone in its closedstate;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of sending a reply-message tobe performed by the portable telephone;

FIG. 8( a) is a side elevation of a portable telephone in its openedstate, of the other embodiment;

FIG. 8( b) is a front view of the portable telephone in its openedstate;

FIG. 9( a) is a front view of the portable telephone in its closed sate;

FIG. 9( b) is a side elevation of the portable telephone in its closedstate.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments for the present invention will be described specificallywith reference to two embodiments.

First Embodiment

A portable telephone of the present embodiment comprises a casing 1including an upper half case 11 and a lower half case 12, as describedin FIGS. 1( a) to 1(c) and 2(a) to 2(c). The upper half case 11 and thelower half case 12 are upwardly or downwardly slidably in engagementwith each other. The portable telephone is openable to a state whereinthe upper half case 11 and the lower half case 12 are upwardly ordownwardly shifted to each other at each of front positions thereof asshown in FIGS. 1( a) to 1(c), and closable to a state wherein the upperhalf case 11 and the lower half case 12 conform to each other at each offront positions thereof as shown in FIGS. 2( a) to 2(c), to therebyprovide an openable/closable casing 1.

The upper half case 11 has arranged on its front surface a speechreception portion 2 housing a speaker, a main display 13 a of an organicelectroluminescence display, and an auxiliary display 13 b of a liquidcrystal display. These displays 13 a, 13 b are both exposed to theoutside regardless of whether the casing 1 is opened or closed, so thatinformation presented on the screen of the main display 13 a and theauxiliary display 13 b can be seen regardless of whether the casing isopened or closed.

The screen of the main display 13 a has a large area such that textinformation is presented over a plurality of lines. A display operationof the main display 13 a is set off in standby state in order to savepower consumption, and is set on in response to the user's manipulationas will be described below, to display the contents of the receivedmessage and a message-preparation screen which will be described below.

On the other hand, the screen of the auxiliary display 13 b has anextremely smaller area than that of the main display 13 a, e.g., an areawhich is suitable for presenting text information in merely a singleline. In standby state, presented on the screen of the auxiliary display13 b are date and time, a battery mark for indicating the remainingcapacity of a housed secondary battery, etc., while, in receiving amessage, presented thereon is a message-receiving mark for indicatingthe receipt of the message.

Arranged on a front surface of the upper half case 11 is an upper keyinput device 14 a including a plurality of manipulation keys. Themanipulation surface of the upper key input device 14 a is exposed tothe outside regardless of whether the casing 1 is opened or closed, andcan be depressed not only when opened but when closed, as shown in FIG.1( a) and FIG. 2( a). The plurality of manipulation keys providing theupper key input device 14 a include a message-display key 140 to bemanipulated for displaying the contents of a received message as will bedescribed below. Furthermore, two CCD cameras 3, 30 are provided atupper ends of the front and rear surfaces, respectively, of the upperhalf case 11, as shown in FIG. 1. The CCD camera 3 (as will be referredto as the “front camera”) which is arranged on the front surface of theupper half case 11 has a lens portion exposed to the outside regardlessof whether the casing 1 is opened or closed as shown in FIG. 1( a) andFIG. 2( a), to enable the user to photograph an image not only whenopened but when closed. On the other hand, the CCD camera 30 (as will bereferred to as the “rear camera”) which is arranged on the rear surfaceof the upper half case 11 has a lens portion which is exposed to theoutside by opening the casing 1 as shown in FIG. 1( b), to enable theuser to photograph an image only when the casing 1 is opened.Furthermore, a magnet 18 a is arranged at a lower end of the upper halfcase 11.

Arranged on the front surface of the lower half case 12 are a speechtransmission portion 20 housing a microphone and a lower key inputdevice 14 b including a plurality of manipulation keys. A manipulationsurface of the lower key input device 14 b is exposed by opening thecasing 1 as shown in FIG. 1( a), and can be depressed only when thecasing 1 is opened. The manipulation keys providing the lower key inputdevice 14 b include a plurality of numerical keys and a message-sendingkey to be manipulated in sending a message as will be stated below. Anextending antenna 15 is provided on the rear of the lower half case 12.A magnetic sensor 18 b is provided at a lower end of the lower half case12. The magnetic sensor 18 b outputs a sensor-signal indicating “on” bymoving the magnet 18 a arranged at the lower end of the upper half case11 closer to the sensor 18 b while outputs a sensor signal indicating“off” by moving the magnet 18 a therefrom. With reference to thesesensor signals it is detected whether the casing 1 is opened or closed.

FIG. 3 shows an electrical construction of the portable telephone. Asillustrated, a receiving circuit 17 a and a transmitting circuit 17 bare connected in parallel to a duplexer 16. Signals received by theantenna 15 are fed through the duplexer 16 to the receiving circuit 17 ato demodulate speech-receiving signals or message-receiving signals. Thespeech-receiving signals are fed through a control circuit 10 to thespeaker 21 to output voice. On the other hand, message-receiving signalsare fed to the control circuit 10 to write the signals in the memory 19.

Furthermore, the speech transmitting signals input to the microphone 22are fed through the control circuit 10 to the speech transmittingcircuit 17 b to modulate the signals. Message-sending signals preparedby the control circuit 10 are fed to the transmitting circuit 17 b tomodulate the signals. The speech transmitting signals and themessage-sending signals which have been modulated are transmittedthrough the duplexer 16 from the antenna 15.

Connected to the control circuit 10 are the main display 13 a, auxiliarydisplay 13 b, upper key input device 14 a, lower key input device 14 b,front camera 3, rear camera 30, and a magnetic sensor 18 b,respectively.

With the portable telephone of the present invention, a simple mode forsending reply messages which simplifies the manipulation in sending areply message to the sender of the received message can be set on/off.On the use of the portable telephone, the user sets the simple mode onor off in advance.

FIG. 4 shows a procedure of sending a reply message to be performed bythe control circuit 10. When the power source is set on, requiredinitial settings such as setting each port are performed in step S1.Then in step S2 an inquiry is made as to whether the simple mode forsending reply messages is set on. If the answer is negative, step S3follows to perform a usual message-receiving operation and areply-message-sending operation, thereafter followed by step S2.

When the answer to the inquiry of step S2 is affirmative, an inquiry ismade as to whether the casing 1 is closed in step S4. If the inquiry isanswered in the affirmative, the sequence proceeds to step S5 wherein aninquiry is made as to whether a message is received. On the other hand,if the inquiry is answered in the negative, the sequence proceeds tostep S14 wherein an inquiry is made as to whether a message is received.If the answer to step S5 or step S14 is negative, step S13 follows toset the telephone to standby mode and to return to step S2.

Thereafter, when a message is received with the casing 1 closed, theanswer to step S5 is affirmative followed by step S6 wherein themessage-receiving signals are written in the memory 19, and amessage-receiving mark is presented on the auxiliary display 13 b whileringtone is produced for a certain period of time. Then in step S7 aninquiry is made as to whether the message-display key 140 of the upperkey input device 14 a is depressed. If the inquiry is answered in thenegative, step S13 follows to set the telephone to standby mode tothereafter return to step S2.

On the other hand, when the message-display key 140 is depressed, theinquiry of step S7 is answered in the affirmative followed by step S8 toread out the message-receiving signals from the memory 19 and to displaythe contents of the received message on the main display 13 a.Subsequently in step S9 an inquiry is made as to whether the casing 1 isopened. When the inquiry is answered in the negative, step S13 followsto set the telephone to standby mode to thereafter return to step S2.

When the casing 1 is opened with the contents of the received messagedisplayed on the main display 13 a, the inquiry of step S9 is answeredin the affirmative followed by step S10 to display on the main display13 a a message-preparation screen for preparing a reply message to besent to a sender of the received message. In this state the user'sentering characters with the lower key input device 14 b prepares amessage to be sent in conformity with the user's entering manipulation.

Thereafter, in step S11, an inquiry is made as to whether amessage-sending key of the lower key input device 14 b is depressed. Ifthe inquiry is answered in the negative, the sequence returns to stepS10. On the other hand if in the affirmative, step S12 follows to feedprepared message-sending signals to the transmitting circuit 17 b.Accordingly message-sending signals are sent to a communicationsequipment of the sender of the received message. As a last step thetelephone is set to standby mode in step S13 to thereafter return tostep S2.

Thereafter, when a message is received with the casing 1 opened, theanswer to step S14 is affirmative followed by step S15 wherein themessage-receiving signals are written in the memory 19, and amessage-receiving mark is presented on the auxiliary display 13 b whileringtone is produced for a certain period of time. Then in step S16 aninquiry is made as to whether the message-display key 140 of the upperkey input device 14 a is depressed. If the inquiry is answered in thenegative, step S13 follows to set the telephone to standby mode tothereafter return to step S2.

On the other hand, when the message-display key 140 is depressed, theinquiry of step S16 is answered in the affirmative followed by step S17to read out the message-receiving signals from the memory 19 displayingthe contents of the received message on the main display 13 a.Subsequently in step S18 an inquiry is made as to whether the casing 1is closed. When the inquiry is answered in the affirmative, step S13follows to set the telephone to standby mode to thereafter return tostep S2. On the other hand, the inquiry of step S18 is answered in thenegative, step S19 follows to inquire whether the message-display key140 of the upper key input device 14 a is depressed. If the answer isnegative, the sequence returns to step s17. On the other hand if theanswer is affirmative, step S10 follows to display the replymessage-preparation screen on the main display 13 a. Thereafter theprocedures of step S11 to step S13 as described are performed tothereafter return to step S2.

According to the procedures described, in the case where the simple modefor sending reply messages is set on, when a message is received withthe casing 1 closed, the message-receiving mark is presented on theauxiliary display 13 b while ringtone is produced for a certain periodof time. Thereafter, when the message-display key 140 of the upper keyinput device 14 a is depressed, the contents of the received message aredisplayed on the main display 13 a. Subsequently opening the casing 1presents the reply message-preparation screen on the main display 13 a.In this state, entering characters prepares a message to be sent inconformity with the entering manipulation. Thereafter, when the messagesending key of the lower key input device 14 b is depressed, preparedmessage-sending signals are sent to the communications equipment of thesender of the received message.

On the other hand, when a message is received with the casing 1 opened,the message-receiving mark is presented on the auxiliary display 13 bwhile ringtone is produced for a certain period of time. Thereafter,when a message-display key 140 of the upper key input device 14 a isdepressed, the contents of the received message are displayed on themain display 13 a. When the message-display key 140 is depressed, thereply message-preparation screen is displayed on the main display 13 a.In this state, entering characters prepares the message to be sent inconformity with the entering manipulation. Thereafter, when themessage-sending key of the lower key input device 14 b is depressed,prepared message-sending signals are sent to the communicationsequipment of the sender of the received message. On the other hand, whenthe casing 1 is closed with the contents of the received messagedisplayed on the main display 13 a as described above, the telephonereturns to its standby mode. Even if the contents of the prepared replymessage or those of the received message are displayed on the maindisplay 13 a and the casing 1 is then closed, the contents are stillheld displayed.

With the portable telephone of the present embodiment, when the simplemode for sending reply messages is set on, the user will performprocedures to be described below in sending the reply message to thesender of the received message after reading the received message.

When the message is received with the casing 1 closed, the contents ofthe received message are displayed on the main display 13 a bydepressing the message-display key 140 of the upper key input device 14a. Incidentally, the display surface of the main display 13 a is exposedto the outside with the casing 1 closed as shown in FIG. 2( a), so thatthe user can read the received message displayed on the main display 13a. Subsequently when the user opens the casing 1 for exposing themanipulation surface of the lower key input device 14 b,reply-message-preparation screen is displayed on the main display 13 a.The display surface of the main display 13 a is exposed to the outsideeven when the casing 1 is opened as shown in FIG. 1( a), so that theuser can view the reply-message-preparation screen on the main display13 a. The user then prepares the reply message by entering characterswith the plurality of manipulation keys of the lower key input device 14b. As a last step the prepared message-sending signals are transmittedto the communications equipment of the sender of the received message bydepressing the message-sending key of the lower key input device 14 b.Accordingly the user can send the reply message to the sender of thereceived message.

On the other hand, when the message is received with the casing 1opened, the contents of the received message are displayed on the maindisplay 13 a by depressing the message-display key 140 of the upper keyinput device 14 a. Incidentally, the display surface of the main display13 a is exposed to the outside with the casing 1 opened as shown in FIG.1( a), so that the user can read the received message displayed on themain display 13 a. Subsequently the reply-message-preparation screen isdisplayed on the main display 13 a by depressing again themessage-display key 140 of the upper key input device 14 a with thecontents of the received message displayed on the main display 13 a. Theuser then prepares the reply message by entering characters with theplurality of manipulation keys of the lower key input device 14 b. As alast step the prepared message-sending signals are transmitted to thecommunications equipment of the sender of the received message bydepressing the message-sending key of the lower key input device 14 b.Accordingly the user can send the reply message to the sender of thereceived message.

With the portable telephone of the present embodiment, in the case wherethe simple mode for sending reply messages is set on, thereply-message-preparation screen will be displayed on the main display13 a by opening the casing 1 as described above when the message isreceived with the casing 1 closed. A series of manipulations for sendingthe reply message to the sender of the received message is made easierthan that with the conventional portable telephone which requires theuser to manipulate the reply-message-preparation key after opening thecasing.

Furthermore, the user can read the received message with the casing 1closed by merely manipulating the message-display key 140 as statedabove. The manipulations for reading the received message are madeeasier than those with the conventional portable telephone whichrequires the user to open the casing for reading the received message.

Second Embodiment

The portable telephone of the present embodiment comprises a flat mainbody case 41 and a lid case 42 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. An upper endof the main body case 41 and a lower end of the lid case 42 areconnected to each other by a hinge mechanism 43. The telephone can beopened to a state wherein the lid case 42 is opened as shown in FIG. 5and closed to a state wherein the lid case 42 is closed as shown in FIG.6, to thereby provide a foldable casing.

Arranged on the front surface of the main body case 41 are a speechtransmission portion 46 housing a microphone and a key input device 45including a plurality of manipulation keys. A manipulation surface ofthe key input device 45 is exposed to the outside by opening the casing4 as shown in FIG. 1, and can be depressed only in the opening state ofthe casing 4. The manipulation keys providing the key input device 45include a plurality of numerical keys and a message-sending key to bemanipulated in sending a message as will be stated below. An extendingantenna 44 is provided on the rear of the main body case 41. The mainbody case 41 has at a side thereof a message-display key 450 which is tobe manipulated for displaying the contents of the received message. Thekey 450 is exposed to the outside regardless of whether the casing 4 isopened or closed as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The key can be depressed notonly when the casing 4 is opened but when closed.

The lid case 42 has arranged on its front surface a speech receptionportion 48 housing a speaker and a main display 47 a comprising a liquidcrystal display as shown in FIG. 5. The display surface of the maindisplay 47 a is exposed to the outside by opening the casing 4 as shownin FIG. 5. Only when the casing 4 is opened, the user can view theinformation displayed on the main display 47 a. The display surface ofthe main display 47 a has a large area such that text information can bepresented over a plurality of lines. The contents of the receivedmessage and the message-reply preparing screen are displayed on thedisplay surface. Arranged on the front surface of the lid case 42 is anopening-closing detection switch 49 for detecting whether the lid case42 is opened or closed. Closing the lid case 42 turns on theopening-closing detection switch 49 while opening the lid case 42 turnsoff the switch 49. Arranged on the front surface of the lid case 42 is aCCD camera 5 which has a lens portion exposed to the outside by openingthe casing 4. The user can photograph an image only when the casing 4 isopened.

The lid case 42 has arranged on its rear surface an auxiliary display 47b comprising a liquid crystal display as shown in FIG. 6. The displaysurface of the auxiliary display 47 b is exposed to the outside evenwhen the casing 4 is closed. Information presented on the auxiliarydisplay 47 b can be seen even when the casing 4 is closed. The displaysurface of the auxiliary display 47 b has a large area such that textinformation can be presented over a plurality of lines. The displayoperation of the auxiliary display 47 b is set on only when the casing 4is closed. In standby state, date and battery mark, etc., are presentedthereon. When a message is received, a message-receiving mark ispresented thereon and the contents of the received message are alsodisplayed as will be stated below. The lid case 42 further has arrangedon its rear surface a CCD camera 50, which has a lens portion exposed tothe outside regardless of whether the casing 4 is opened or closed asshown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The user can photograph an image regardless ofwhether opened or closed.

FIG. 7 shows a procedure of sending a reply message to be performed by acontrol circuit of the present embodiment. When the power source is seton, required initial settings such as setting each port are performed instep S21. Then in step S22 an inquiry is made as to whether the simplemode for sending reply messages is set on. If the answer is negative,step S23 follows to perform a usual message-receiving operation and areply-message-sending operation, thereafter followed by step S22.

When the answer to the inquiry of step S22 is affirmative, an inquiry ismade as to whether the casing 4 is closed in step S24. If the inquiry isanswered in the affirmative, the sequence proceeds to step S25 whereinan inquiry is made as to whether a message is received. On the otherhand, if the inquiry is answered in the negative, the sequence proceedsto step S34 wherein an inquiry is made as to whether a message isreceived. If the answer to step S25 or step S34 is negative, step S33follows to set the telephone to standby mode and to return to step S22.

Thereafter, when a message is received with the casing 4 closed, theanswer to step S25 is affirmative followed by step S26 wherein themessage-receiving signals are written in a memory, and amessage-receiving mark is presented on the auxiliary display 47 b whileringtone is produced for a certain period of time. Then in step S27 aninquiry is made as to whether the message-display key 450 is depressed.If the inquiry is answered in the negative, step S33 follows to set thetelephone to standby mode to thereafter return to step S22.

On the other hand, when the message-display key 450 is depressed, theinquiry of step S27 is answered in the affirmative followed by step S28to read out the message-receiving signals from the memory and to displaythe contents of the received message on the auxiliary display 47 b.Subsequently in step S29 an inquiry is made as to whether the casing 4is opened. When the inquiry is answered in the negative, step S33follows to set the telephone to standby mode to thereafter return tostep S22.

When the casing 4 is opened with the contents of the received messagedisplayed on the auxiliary display 47 b, the inquiry of step S29 isanswered in the affirmative followed by step S30 to display on the maindisplay 47 a a message-preparation screen for preparing a reply messageto be sent to the sender of the received message. In this state theuser's entering characters with the key input device 45 prepares amessage to be sent in conformity with the user's entering manipulation.

Thereafter, in step S31, an inquiry is made as to whether amessage-sending key of the key input device 45 is depressed. If theinquiry is answered in the negative, the sequence returns to step S30.On the other hand if in the affirmative, step S32 follows to feedprepared message-sending signals to the transmitting circuit.Accordingly message-sending signals are sent to a communicationsequipment of the sender of the received message. As a last step thetelephone is set to standby mode in step S33 to thereafter return tostep S22.

Thereafter, when a message is received with the casing 4 opened, theanswer to step 34 is affirmative followed by step S35 wherein themessage-receiving signals are written in the memory, and amessage-receiving mark is presented on the auxiliary display 47 b whileringtone is produced for a certain period of time. Then in step S36 aninquiry is made as to whether the message-display key 450 is depressed.If the inquiry is answered in the negative, step S33 follows to set thetelephone to standby mode to thereafter return to step S22.

On the other hand, when the message-display key 450 is depressed, theinquiry of step S36 is answered in the affirmative followed by step S37to read out the message-receiving signals from the memory to display thecontents of the received message on the main display 47 a. Subsequentlyin step S38 an inquiry is made as to whether the casing 4 is closed.When the inquiry is answered in the affirmative, step S33 follows to setthe telephone to standby mode to thereafter return to step S22.

On the other hand, the inquiry of step S38 is answered in the negative,step S39 follows to inquire whether the message-display key 450 isdepressed. If the answer is negative, the sequence returns to step S37.On the other hand if the answer is affirmative, step S30 follows todisplay the reply message-preparation screen on the main display 47 a.Thereafter the procedures of step S31 to step S33 as described areperformed to return to thereafter step S22.

According to the procedures described, in the case where the simple modefor sending reply messages is set on, the message-receiving mark ispresented on the auxiliary display 47 b while ringtone is produced for acertain period of time when the message is received with the casing 4closed. Thereafter, when the message-display key 450 is depressed, thecontents of the received message are displayed on the auxiliary display47 b. Subsequently opening the casing 4 presents the replymessage-preparation screen on the main display 47 a. In this state theuser's entering characters prepares a message to be sent in conformitywith the entering manipulation. Thereafter, when the message sending keyof the key input device 45 is depressed, prepared message-sendingsignals are sent to the communications equipment of the sender of thereceived message.

When a message is, on the other hand, received with the casing 4 opened,the message-receiving mark is presented on the main display 47 a whileringtone is produced for a certain period of time. Thereafter, when amessage-display key 450 is depressed, the contents of the receivedmessage are displayed on the main display 47 a. When the message-displaykey 450 is further depressed, the reply message-preparation screen isdisplayed on the main display 47 a. In this state the user's enteringcharacters prepares the message to be sent in conformity with theentering manipulation. Thereafter, when the message-sending key of thekey input device 45 is depressed, prepared message-sending signals aresent to the communications equipment of the sender of the receivedmessage. On the other hand, when the casing 4 is closed with thecontents of the received message displayed on the main display 47 a asdescribed above, the telephone returns to its standby mode. Even if thecontents of the prepared reply message or those of the received messageare displayed on the main display 47 a and the casing 4 is then closed,the contents are still held displayed.

With the portable telephone of the present embodiment, when the simplemode for sending reply messages is set on, the user will performprocedures to be described below in sending the reply message to thesender of the received message after reading the received message.

When the message is received with the casing 4 closed, the contents ofthe received message are displayed on the auxiliary display 47 b bydepressing the message-display key 450. Incidentally, the displaysurface of the auxiliary display 47 b is exposed to the outside with thecasing 4 closed as shown in FIG. 6, so that the user can read thereceived message displayed on the auxiliary display 47 b. Subsequentlywhen the user opens the casing 4 for exposing the manipulation surfaceof the key input device 45, reply-message-preparation screen isdisplayed on the main display 47 a. The display surface of the maindisplay 47 a is exposed to the outside by opening the casing 4 as shownin FIG. 5, so that the user can view the reply-message-preparationscreen on the main display 47 a. The user then prepares the replymessage by entering characters with the plurality of manipulation keysof the key input device 45. As a last step the prepared message-sendingsignals are transmitted to the communications equipment of the sender ofthe received message by depressing the message-sending key of the keyinput device 45. Accordingly the user can send the reply message to thesender of the received message.

On the other hand, when the message is received with the casing 4opened, the contents of the received message are displayed on the maindisplay 47 a by depressing the message-display key 450. Incidentally,the display surface of the main display 47 a is exposed to the outsidewith the casing 4 opened as shown in FIG. 5, so that the user can readthe received message displayed on the main display 47 a. Subsequentlythe reply-message-preparation screen is displayed on the main display 47a by depressing again the message-display key 450 with the contents ofthe received message displayed on the main display 47 a. The user thenprepares the reply message by entering characters with the plurality ofmanipulation keys of the key input device 45. As a last step theprepared message-sending signals are transmitted to the communicationsequipment of the sender of the received message by depressing themessage-sending key of the key input device 45. Accordingly the user cansend the reply message to the sender of the received message.

With the portable telephone of the present embodiment, in the case wherethe simple mode for sending reply messages is set on, thereply-message-preparation screen will be displayed on the main display47 a by opening the casing 4 as described above when the message isreceived with the casing 4 closed. A series of manipulations for sendingthe reply message to the sender of the received message is made easierthan that with the conventional portable telephone which requires theuser to manipulate the reply-message-preparation key after opening thecasing.

Furthermore, the user can read the received message with the casing 4closed by merely manipulating the message-display key 450 as statedabove. The manipulations for reading the received message are madeeasier than those with the conventional portable telephone whichrequires the user to open the casing for reading the received message.

The device of the present invention is not limited to the foregoingembodiments in construction but can be modified variously within thetechnical scope as set forth in the appended claims.

For example, although the contents of the received message are displayedwhen the message-display key is manipulated after the reception of themessage in the first and the second embodiments, this is not limitative;but the contents of the received message are automatically displayedregardless of whether the user manipulates the key when a message isreceived.

Furthermore, the message prepared in conformity with the user's enteringcharacters is sent to the sender of the received message when themessage-sending key is depressed in the first and the secondembodiments, but this is not limitative; in the case where the preparedmessage is to be sent to the other party than the sender of the receivedmessage, the prepared message is to be sent to the other party.

The present invention can be practiced not only for the portabletelephones comprising a casing 6 including a main body case 61 and a lid62 for covering only a key manipulation surface 60 which is arranged ona front surface of the main body case 61 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, butalso for the other portable telephones such as a portable telephonecomprising an openable/closable casing which is known.

1. A portable telephone including an openable/closable casing, a display having a screen which is exposed to the outside regardless of whether the casing is opened or closed, and a key input device having a plurality of manipulation keys for entering characters and a manipulation surface which is to be exposed to the outside by opening the casing, the portable telephone being capable of sending and receiving messages containing electronic information, the portable telephone being characterized in that the portable telephone comprises: opening-closing detection means for detecting whether the casing is opened or closed, means for receiving the message, display control means for displaying the contents of the received message on the display when the message is received with the casing closed, and when the casing in an opening state is thereafter detected, displaying on the display, in response to the detection of the opening state, a message-preparation screen for preparing a message to be sent to a sender of the received message or to the other party than the sender.
 2. A portable telephone according to claim 1 wherein the portable telephone comprises a message-display key which is positioned so as to be manipulated with the casing closed, and the display control means executes a display operation for displaying the contents of the received message when the message-display key is manipulated after the message is received.
 3. A portable telephone according to claim 2 wherein, when the message-display key is manipulated after the message is received with the casing opened, the display control means displays the contents of the received message on the display and then displays the message-preparation screen on the display when the message-display key is further manipulated.
 4. A portable telephone including an openable/closable casing, a main display having a screen which is to be exposed to the outside by opening the casing, an auxiliary display having a screen which is to be exposed to the outside with the casing closed, and a key input device having a manipulation surface which is to be exposed to the outside by opening the casing, the portable telephone being capable of sending and receiving messages containing electronic information, the portable telephone being characterized in that the portable telephone comprises: opening-closing detection means for detecting whether the casing is opened or closed, means for receiving the message, display control means for displaying the contents of the received message on the auxiliary display when the message is received with the casing closed, and when the casing in an opening state is thereafter detected, displaying on the main display, in response to the detection of the opening state, a message-preparation screen for preparing a message to be sent to a sender of the received message or to the other party than the sender.
 5. A portable telephone according to claim 4 wherein the portable telephone comprises a message-display key which is positioned so as to be manipulated with the casing closed, and the display control means executes a display operation for displaying the contents of the received message when the message-display key is manipulated after the message is received.
 6. A portable telephone according to claim 5 wherein, when the message-display key is manipulated after the message is received with the casing opened, the display control means displays the contents of the received message on the main display and then displays the message-preparation screen on the main display when the message-display key is further manipulated. 